I think todays Las Vegas sucks the big one!
Its to damn commercial!!!
Now take the glamour of the 1950's and 1960's and Vegas was great.
I think personally Steve Winn Really ruined Las Vegas!
I think todays Las Vegas sucks the big one!
Its to damn commercial!!!
Now take the glamour of the 1950's and 1960's and Vegas was great.
I think personally Steve Winn Really ruined Las Vegas!
I agree that much of the glamour and mystery of the old Vegas is lost now...
But can I just say that I REALLY wish they hadn't taken the pirate guys from Treasure Island?!
I consider that blatant thievery of perfectly good eye-candy, dangit!
I prefer the OLD Vegas and the closest thing to that is downtown. I'll never stay on the strip again.
Hmmm...
You may just have healed my broken heart, Danny!
Thanks!
What were the hookers like back in the day? I think I prefer a modern pro. The modern Vegas is supposed to be for the whole family. I can take the wife and kids and they can find plenty of things to do while daddy buys asian hookers.
I've never been to Vegas. *cries*
My fiance and I are going next year to get hitched. We decided to skip the whole hyped-up $150,000 wedding and go with a nice simple one, with Elvis as a witness. I can't wait for blackjack though! Oh and also--we're stopping in Tahoe for two days, then go down to LA to fly home from there and OF COURSE going on Scott's tour. YAY!!!!!
Not even the Chicago mob could stand up to Corporations. Stock holders-going to break 15 million legs? The Mob is not dead BTW-just out of sight.
I was in Vegas this past May, first time I have been there in 25 years!! I couldn't believe it!! Sooo much to see, I hardly saw anything. I liked the old Vegas...but then again, I liked the old Hollywood...
You are gonna have a blast. I flew into Vegas this past May, rented a car, drove to my friends near Laughlin NV, and then went across to see Dad near LA. And then did the drive back around to fly home from Vegas. I had a blast!! I put over 2500 miles on my rental car in two weeks!! I loved EVERY mile!!
I missed Scott though this trip....i'm bummed about that one.
OH man I want a Time machine.To go back to Vegas in the late fifties and early sixties and see 'THE RAT PACK' live! That would be a blast.RIP Joey Bishop,the last rat.
The thing that really sucked was when they knocked down all the old casinos like the Sands That was history! Why in the heck did they do that for?
LOVE Old Vegas!! I like to stay downtown (Golden Nugget)
OLDER Vegas anyday
I remember going to Las Vegas the first time in 1986 when I still didn't appreciate old Vegas. I remember driving by the Sands and not giving it a second look. I could kick myself for not stopping by!!!!
I think alot of the old Casino's were still around and I soooooo regret not checking them out!!!!
This is a must get book for any fan of Vegas of the 50's
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/boo...83318376&itm=1
I found it odd that they tore down the Sands hotel the day OF, or the day AFTER Joey Bishop died. I remember him in my collective memory or the 60's, but I don't really remember what for. I think he had a talk show a couple 'o years, and a member of the "Rat Pack".
David Cassidy has created a Vegas-style show called "The Rat Pack Is Back" that he travels with at times. He usually pickes up the Bobby Darin part.
Scroll down towards the center of the page in the link for a neat pictorial historic view of Freemont street:
http://www.lasvegasmikey.com/fremont_street.htm
Last edited by Danny62; 11-05-2007 at 06:29 PM.
Love Freemont street! The casinos are much better than the corporate ones on the strip. Plus, you gotta love that tv canopy.
Man, I love downtown Vegas.
Agreed. I always stay downtown these days. Much better gambling, and I have been able to play poker with Jackie, the owner of the El Cortez. He plays almost every afternoon. I haven't been since February, and I hope he is still doing well.
BTW, check out the Bay City Diner at the Golden Gate Casino for a bit of "Old Vegas" dining.
Last edited by ScottyMonger; 11-05-2007 at 06:41 PM.
I was there twice but not long enough to really see anything. I want to go back.
Okay, the spelling Nazi is about to poke her head out....
It's FREMONT. One 'e'.
And yes, Fremont Street rules. Hubby and I always stay and play downtown. So far we've stayed at the Plaza, Las Vegas Club, Golden Gate, Golden Nugget, Fremont, Four Queens and the El Cortez. So that leaves... Main Street Station, California, Binion's and the Fitz. We'll pass on the Gold Spike!
Sorry. Carry on.
The giant cowboy neon sign that used to boom out HOWDY. Think he waved an arm, too.
I love Fremont Street! Love the Mardi Gras beads and the free drinks! Also love the Betty Boop five cent machines. Oh, and great food!
Fremont is where you can get deep fried oreos and beer in the shape of a football (at Mermaids). My husband showed a truck on that street, it was pretty damn fun.
I want to go to Vegas!!!
I lucked out and got the penthouse at the Plaza, because they screwed up our suite reservation. It was fun to stay in the penthouse, but it was WAY dated.
Have also stayed at the Golden Nugget and the El Cortez. Believe it or not, the Tower rooms at the El Cortez are as nice as any downtown, except that the bathrooms are very small. The North tower rooms at the Nugget were also very nice, but cost twice as much as Tower rooms at the El Cortez. The Nugget is the closest thing to a "Strip Hotel" in downdown, for all the good and bad that entails.
Well, I guess as far as swank, the Golden Nugget. Great place to stay, rotten place to play. We haven't stayed there since the renovations.
As far as the other places, we've never had a bad room, but then we're not that picky. We've stayed in both the Pavilion rooms (above the parking garage) and the Vintage rooms (above the casino) at the ElCo and we were satisfied.
We stayed in one of the rooms at the Golden Gate that has two twin beds, which, if it was all that was available, we'd stay in again.
The room/bathroom at the Fremont was small (but enormous compared to the GG).
Our room at the Plaza was in the North Tower (I think) and it was huge -- the largest we've stayed in downtown. Two queen beds and a refrigerator. Fancy? Nope. But fine for us.
The room at Four Queens was fine, too. It's been a few years since we stayed there and the rooms have been remodeled from what I've heard.
I'd actually have to say the North Tower deluxe rooms at the Las Vegas Club are/were my favorite -- big rooms with a sitting area, an in-room safe, a coffee maker and a refrigerator (I am all about the refrigerator). But it's been a few years since we've stayed there and I've heard the new owners are bound and determined to run the place into the ground.
http://www.photoslasvegas.com/old_ve..._Vegas_50.html
This site has some good video from Las Vegas from the 50's thru the 90's!!!
Enjoy
I lived in Vegas for 6years and the only time I went to Fremont was when I had to go to court. Can you believe that? I really regret it now that it's not right down the street.
The Great Moments Room at the Las Vegas Club!!, prime rib (fond rememberance, not sarcasm) Oink!!
And the beer at Main Street Station!!
Last edited by JeffD; 11-07-2007 at 08:48 AM.
That sucks! I used to go there every trip. The new owners of The Colorado Belle in Laughlin did the same thing to The Orleans Room, combining it with Mark Twain's.
Two great restaurants murdered by corporate greed.
This is kind of cool...you can see vegas as it was and is now. Its cool to see how its grown
http://www.lasvegassun.com/history/map/
At least I think its cool.
That is cool, Danny--thanks, dahling!
Thanks Danny ... totally cool
THAT is a great site! I am a travel agent and love the history of tourism in in places like that.
I think it must have been great in the 60s. But while there is allot to
do now, it's still so sleazy. And you don't get to watch the high rollers
much anymore. They are whisked away and hidden. The people watching
isn't as much fun. Now it's like a state fair...everybody looks the same
with their flip flops and tee shirts. There's more to do but in a way,
it's more boring too.
I can take it for about 24 hours.
I'm going to Vegas in August to see Depeche Mode (stage front, GA tickets! YEAH!) and staying Downtown at the Gold Coast. Looking forward to it!!
I agree, new commercialized Vegas is grotty.
I love Las Vegas and I must say that the idea of the good old days is what makes it fun for me to go there...sure there may be less and less places to remind you of the glory days of the place but there will be a time 20-30 years from now when THIS time will be remembered as a golden era in Lost Wages!!! Just imagine what they will have come up with to entertain people by then!!!
http://www.jetcafe.org/~npc/gambling...atch.html#list
I lived in LV for five years, and am surprised some of these hotels are still operational .... .
Death hag watch for casinos ... .
When did Binions get new owners? Did Becky lose her gambling license too? This is like some of the oldies but goodies that left Reno back in the day.
Wanna see my grandkids?
I saw Vegas in the early 80s when I was a teenager and correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't it still fairly small back then? I mean, I distinctly remember it looking a lot more like a small town than the big, ugly city it is now. I LOVED it...it was so kitschy and cool. All the billboards advertised their 99 cents breakfast buffets, and I remember walking up and down the Strip trying to find the building behind the casino where Dan Tanna "lived". LOL
I LOVE "Old Vegas", and the last time I went back (in the late 90s) probably WILL be the LAST time I go back!!